Urges Paladino to follow the example of reform-minded Democrats who defeated Espada and Monserrate and take on entrenched upstate GOP State Senators by supporting independent women challengers

New York, NY – Today Bill Samuels, whose New Roosevelt Initiative led the effort to defeat State Senator Pedro Espada, issued a direct challenge to Republican nominee for Governor Carl Paladino to take on entrenched State Senators in his own party if he is truly serious about reforming Albany. Samuels went a step further and urged Paladino to support reform-minded women candidates who are running against upstate incumbent GOP State Senators who are blocking reform legislation.

“Regardless of who is Governor, there will be no remaking of Albany, unless we pass meaningfully reform legislation. The ouster of Pedro Espada and Hiram Monserrate proves New York Democrats are willing to take on members of their own party,” Samuels said. “Carl Paladino talks about ‘taking a bat’ to Albany in order to reform it, but does he really mean it? Because there will be no reform if we reelect the same group of corrupt Republican State Senators who have been in office for 30 years and have achieved nothing.”

“If he is truly serious about reform, I challenge him to take on incumbent Republican State Senators who did nothing to push reform measures when they had the majority under Leader Joe Bruno, are indicative of the corrupt practices of Albany and campaign to purge them from the party.”

Samuels pointed to five Republican incumbent State Senators from central and upstate New York standing in the way of meaningful reform in Albany. They include:

Jim Alesi, Republican State Senator, SD55, Rochester, who has been representing the district for more than 13 years;

Hugh Farley, Republican State Senator, SD44, Schenectady, who has served more than 30 years in the legislature;

Roy McDonald, Republican State Senator, SD43, Saratoga, who was Joe Bruno’s handpicked successor to the seat;

John DeFrancisco, Republican State Senator, SD 50, Syracuse, who has been representing the district for 18 years;

Joe Robach, Republican State Senator, SD56, Rochester, who has been representing the district for more than a decade

“I invite Paladino to visit State Senate districts in Albany, Rochester, Schenectady and Syracuse that are represented by incumbents who stand in the way of reform and are being challenged by independent, reform-minded women candidates, who deserve support. Regardless of who is the next Governor of New York, we have to get rid of lawmakers who want to maintain the status quo in Albany.”

Samuels and the New Roosevelt Initiative were the first to endorsed Rivera in July and ran an independent field operation in the 33rd State Senate district, helping lead to the defeat of Espada. The goal of the New Roosevelt Initiative to is to bring true, substantive reform to Albany in order to create the best state legislature in the country.

###

Urges Paladino to follow the example of reform-minded Democrats who defeated Espada and Monserrate and take on entrenched upstate GOP State Senators by supporting independent women challengers

New York, NY – Today Bill Samuels, whose New Roosevelt Initiative led the effort to defeat State Senator Pedro Espada, issued a direct challenge to Republican nominee for Governor Carl Paladino to take on entrenched State Senators in his own party if he is truly serious about reforming Albany. Samuels went a step further and urged Paladino to support reform-minded women candidates who are running against upstate incumbent GOP State Senators who are blocking reform legislation.

“Regardless of who is Governor, there will be no remaking of Albany, unless we pass meaningfully reform legislation. The ouster of Pedro Espada and Hiram Monserrate proves New York Democrats are willing to take on members of their own party,” Samuels said. “Carl Paladino talks about ‘taking a bat’ to Albany in order to reform it, but does he really mean it? Because there will be no reform if we reelect the same group of corrupt Republican State Senators who have been in office for 30 years and have achieved nothing.”

“If he is truly serious about reform, I challenge him to take on incumbent Republican State Senators who did nothing to push reform measures when they had the majority under Leader Joe Bruno, are indicative of the corrupt practices of Albany and campaign to purge them from the party.”

Samuels pointed to five Republican incumbent State Senators from central and upstate New York standing in the way of meaningful reform in Albany. They include:

·Jim Alesi, Republican State Senator, SD55, Rochester, who has been representing the district for more than 13 years;

·Hugh Farley, Republican State Senator, SD44, Schenectady, who has served more than 30 years in the legislature;

·Roy McDonald, Republican State Senator, SD43, Saratoga, who was Joe Bruno’s handpicked successor to the seat;

·John DeFrancisco, Republican State Senator, SD 50, Syracuse, who has been representing the district for 18 years;

·Joe Robach, Republican State Senator, SD56, Rochester, who has been representing the district for more than a decade

“I invite Paladino to visit State Senate districts in Albany, Rochester, Schenectady and Syracuse that are represented by incumbents who stand in the way of reform and are being challenged by independent, reform-minded women candidates, who deserve support. Regardless of who is the next Governor of New York, we have to get rid of lawmakers who want to maintain the status quo in Albany.”

Samuels and the New Roosevelt Initiative were the first to endorsed Rivera in July and ran an independent field operation in the 33rd State Senate district, helping lead to the defeat of Espada. The goal of the New Roosevelt Initiative to is to bring true, substantive reform to Albany in order to create the best state legislature in the country.